Impurities and intrinsic defects significantly affect the electric and optical properties of solids. This project investigates the interaction of such defects with free charge carriers injected electrically or optically, or created in the solid by exposure to ionizing radiation. This is done using electric, optical and magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

Capture of free electrons and holes by defects limits the lifetime and mobility of free charge carriers in semiconductors. Part of the research therefore focuses on solar cells and materials for (power) electronics. Stable capture of electrons or holes by defects in inorganic phosphors after exposure to ionizing radiation, and the change in optical properties resulting from this, make these materials suitable for radiation dosimetry, a second application area of this research. (Translated with aid of DeepL)